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The European Union officially presented its new Arctic Strategy on October 20, as a strategic response to Russia's growing military presence in the region and its use of hybrid tactics to circumvent sanctions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted that Russia's rebuilding of its Arctic military footprint, as well as the merger of its Baltic Sea and Arctic fleets, indicates that Moscow views the two regions as interconnected. Therefore, the EU must adopt a similar approach to counter the threat.

The strategy aims to strengthen Europe's icebreaker fleet, a long-standing demand from Finland, enhance the protection of critical infrastructure, and monitor for potential acts of sabotage and the movement of Russia's shadow fleet through the region. The shadow fleet, primarily composed of old and dilapidated ships, plays a crucial role in Russia's efforts to bypass sanctions, with frequent interceptions by European navies and coast guards.

In addition to the Arctic region, the strategy also intends to expand monitoring to the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, establishing a Maritime Security Hub. However, the formation of this hub requires discussion with EU member states to determine their level of contribution. The strategy also envisions collaboration with NATO and its member countries, though the involvement of non-EU nations remains uncertain, and the specific geographical scope of the new measures is still unclear.

European officials did not disclose the specific areas covered by the new measures. Ireland, in its National Maritime Security Strategy, acknowledged its vulnerability to undersea sabotage by Russian vessels, but EU representatives refrained from commenting on whether the waters surrounding Ireland would be included. Ireland's participation in various EU security and defense initiatives suggests it would likely benefit from the proposed Maritime Security Hub once it is established.